Human Rights Division

The Human Rights Division of the Department of Labor is responsible for enforcing the North Dakota Human Rights Act (N.D.C.C. chapter 14-02.4) and the North Dakota Housing Discrimination Act (N.D.C.C. chapter 14-02.5). This responsibility includes investigating complaints alleging discriminatory practices, educating the public about human rights laws, and studying the nature and extent of discrimination in North Dakota.

North Dakota human rights laws prohibit discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodations, public services, and credit transactions or lending. Discrimination means treating a person differently than another because of a particular characteristic such as race, sex, religion, or disability. In the case of disability, discrimination also means refusing to make an accommodation to allow the person with a disability equal access to the employment, housing, or service.

If you feel you have been harmed by a discriminatory practice, you may initiate a complaint by completing the appropriate intake form and mailing or delivering it to the department. Investigative staff will assess the information you provide on the intake form to determine whether there is a basis for filing a formal complaint. If a formal complaint is filed, the department will conduct a thorough, impartial investigation into the allegations made in the complaint. The department will emphasize conciliation to resolve complaints and the parties may agree to settle a complaint at any time.

If the parties do not agree to settle a complaint and the department determines that a discriminatory practice has occurred, the department will provide for an administrative hearing to establish a remedy for the aggrieved party. If the department determines from its investigation that a discriminatory practice did not occur, it will promptly dismiss the complaint.

If you are aware of activity that you believe may be in violation of North Dakota human rights laws but do not wish to seek a remedy for yourself, you may report the suspected noncompliance to the department using the Complaint Inquiry process.

For more information, click on a link below or contact the Division of Human Rights in-state toll-free at 1-800-582-8032 or in the Bismarck-Mandan area at 328-2660.

Brochure - Human Rights Protections in North Dakota - [45 Kb pdf document]

Brochure - How to File a Discrimination Complaint in North Dakota - [162 Kb pdf document]

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